Advertising device.



.1. LE VIE.

ADVERTISING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26,1918.

Patented Sept. 24,1918.

FIG. I.

l/VVE VR .1. LE VIE WILFRED J. LE VIE, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFGRNIA.

ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24:, TAILS.

Application filed February 26, 1918. Serial No. 219,314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILFRED J. Lu VIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Advertising Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a display device and particularly pertains to a device especially adapted for use in advertising.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a display device which will set forth immovable objects or figures and produce effects in relation to them which will cause certain parts of the display field to appear to moveyand indicate running water, the blowing of wind, rain, and other effects of similar character.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for illuminating said device, which means will automatically actuate a rotating drum bymeans of the heat radiating from the illuminating element.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display device of the above character which is fitted with a movable light screen adapted to be operated by the radiation of heat from the illuminating element, and which, when operating, will produce a series of light beams which will fall upon a fixed light screen and will interchange in position upon a field in a manner to indicate movement of the scene painted upon the field.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the above character which may be easily formed from simple parts without great expense and which will operate continuously when illuminated.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation illus.

trating the frame of the apparatus as well as a scene which may be included therein.

Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section as seen through the entire device and particuupper end of the movable light screen or drum and particularly illustrates the means by which the drum is rotated by heat radiation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating the detail construction of the fixed and movable light screens.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, 10 indicates a frame which is here shown as rectangular in shape and which is provided to inclose a display scene, the character of which may be varied to be applicable to the article or goods being advertised. In the present instance a bathing girl is shown as seated upon a diving board overlooking a body of water. The upper portion of this scene represents the sky, and in this set it is intended to represent the water as continuously moving. This is accomplished by providing an opaque field 11 upon which the sky is painted. This field extends downwardly and terminates along the horizon. Mounted below the line of the horizon is a translucent field 12 which has been painted to indicate waves and ripples of water. The opaque field 11 and the translucent field l2 fill the entire rectangular opening of the frame and constitute the background for a stationary opaque figure 14. In this instance this figure represents a bathing girl seated upon a spring-board and when this figure has been secured to the front of the fields 11 and 12 it will appear to be overlooking the water, as before stated.

Mounted in the rear of the translucent field and spaced a distance therefrom is a fixed light screen 15. This screen is preferably formed of card-board and has a plurality of slits 16 distributed over its entire surface. These slits are disposed at random over the screen and are of various configurations. They, however, extend longitudinally of the screen and horizontally in relation to each other and the frame. As particularly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the slits are formed with tapering ends and gradually enlarged central portions which produce a waving effect. It will be understood that when other illusions are to be produced upon the translucent field 12, the slits may be formed of different shape and arranged differently in relation to each other and the field. Mounted in the rear of the fixed light screen is a movable light screen 17. This screen is of the same height as the fixed screen and is arranged to form a cylinder adapted to rotate upon its vertical axis. The lower end of the cylinder 17 is open and is positioned over and around a light globe 18 by which the entire device is illuminated and through the medium of which the cylinder is rotated. The upper end of the cylinder is partially closed and is fitted with a bearing plate 19 upon which the pointed tip 20 of the incandescent light globe 18 bears. The upper end of the cylinder is also formed with a series of radial openings 21 adjacent which vanes 22 are positioned. These vanes are inclinedto the horizontal, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and are provided to rotate the cylinder by the utilization of the radiating heat produced by the incandescent light globe. The entire circumferential surface of the cylinder 17 is formed with slits 23 similar in shape tothose previously described as occurring upon the fixed screen. The slits 16 in the fixed light screen 15 and the slits 23 in the movable light screen 17 are in the same planes, and both sets of slits are ta pered and pointed both ways in the direction of movement of the movable light screen. In the drawings the direction of movement is horizontal and the axis of the movable light screen is vertical. It will thus be seen that by movement of the cylinder 17 in relation to the fixed screen 15 the beams of light which will emanate from the incandescent light globe Will constantly pass through the slits 23 in the cylinder and intermittently pass through slits 16 in the fixed screen, thereafter falling upon the rear of the translucent field.

In operation, the opaque field 11 and the translucent field 12 are arranged in suitable relation to each other to produce the desired background effect, after which suitable figures are mounted before the two backgrounds, as desired. It will also be understood that in some cases it may not be necessary to separately mount the figures upon the display field but that they may be painted upon the opaque field and slits made in this field through which the translucent field will be visible. After the subject-matter of the display field has been assembled, the fixed and movable light sreens are formed with slits of a desired configuration and arrangement. The drum 17 is then pivotally mounted extending incandescent light globe 18 and when so positioned the entire structure will upon the tip of the vertically be in condition for operation. This is effected by supplying current to illuminate the incandescent globe. Instantly heat will be generated by the globe and this will pass upwardly through the cylinder impinging against the inclined vanes 22 formed in the top thereof. The cylinder will immediately begin to rotate upon its vertical axis and thus change the positions of the slits 23 in relation to the fixed light screen 15 and its slits 16. The light produced by the incandescent globe will pass outwardly from all sides of the cylinder 17 and, due to the opaque character of the cylinder and its open-work formation, beams of light will be formed having different shapes which will fall upon the fixed screen 15. These beams will successively throw rays of light through all of the slits in the screen 15 in the course of their horizontal travel and will, due to the combination of the irregular openings formed by the slits, cause uneven and interrupted illumination of the translucent field. This will successively illuminate the light and dark spots painted upon this field and will give the effect, in this case, of a continuous movement of a body of water. This action will continue as long as the lamp is illuminated and the cylinder 17 rotated thereby.

It will thus be seen that the display device here disclosed is simple in its construction and may be designed and arranged so as to produce many effects, particuarly in which the movement of water, vapor, or fire and smoke is involved, and that the structure utilized may be easily made and maintained in operation without expensive parts.

While I have shown the preferred construction of my display device as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising an opaque field, a translucent field, a scene depicted partly upon the opaque field and partly upon the translucent field, a fixed light screen mounted behind the translucent field and spaced a distance therefrom; said fixed light.

screen being an opaque body having a plurality of slits tapered both ways from their intermediate portions; a movable light screen mounted behind the fixed light screen and comprising an opaque cylinder having slits similar to the slits in the fixed light screen and in the same planes and tapered both ways from their intermediate portions, means for illuminating the movable light screen from the inside, and means for rotating the movable light screen; the slits in the fixed light screen and the slits in the movable light screen being in planes parallel cylinder having slits substantially correwith the movement. sponding to the slits of the fixed light screen,

2. In a display device, a fixed light screen means for rotating the cylinder, and a light If comprising an opaque body having slits Within the cylinder. 5 formed in parallel planes and tapered both In testimony whereof I have signed my Ways from their intermediate portions, a name to this specification. movable light screen comprising an opaque WILFRED J. LE VIE. 

